Water company receives prestigious gold standard

20th March 2015

SEMBCORP Bournemouth Water (SBW) is celebrating after striking gold for the second time in three years.

The company, which supplies drinking water to about half a million people in parts of Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, has been re-awarded Investors in People (IIP) gold level accreditation. 

Investors in People is the UK's leading accreditation for business improvement through people management. It is recognised across the world as a mark of excellence.

Only the top seven per cent of IIP accredited organisations receive the gold standard after rigorous and objective assessment.

SBW has held IIP status continuously since 1994. In 2012, the company received the gold standard, which it has retained ever since.

Assessment is based entirely on interviews with staff selected at random, allowing the IIP assessor to see the company through the eyes of employees.

Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People, said: "We’d like to congratulate Sembcorp Bournemouth Water on their gold standard. 

"Such a high level of accreditation is the sign of great people management practice. It demonstrates a commitment to staff development and shows an organisation committed to being the very best it can be."

Roger Harrington, SBW's Managing Director, said the company was extremely proud to retain IIP gold level accreditation.

He added: "We really value the independent assessment of how we manage and develop our people, as ours is a business based on people.

"While we celebrate this fantastic achievement, we know that our work is not yet done – we’ll act on the feedback we received as part of the assessment to further improve what we do and build on this success."

IIP has helped more than 100,000 businesses across the world in the last 20 years.

It is owned and managed by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.